43. Evans, GA

Evans may feel like a rural town, but a 10-mile commute puts you into downtown Augusta, home to big area employers like Georgia Regents University and U.S. Army center Fort Gordon.

Evans’s downtown area is sparse, but water lovers appreciate being just 30 minutes away from the massive 71,100-acre Thurmond Lake. And with its median home sales price of $190,000, homebuyers will find a slew of affordable options. –S.M.

Evans, GA

Town stats

Median family income (per year)

$104,877

Job growth % (2010-2012)

15.38%

Median home price (2012)

$214,250

Reading test scores (% above/below average)

8.4%

Math test scores (% above/below average)

20.9%

Personal crime incidents (per 1,000)

13

Property crime incidents (per 1,000)

173

Financials

Median family income (per year)

$104,877

Family purchasing power (annual, cost-of-living adjusted)

$115,758

Sales tax

8.00%

State income tax rate (highest bracket)

6.00%I

State income tax rate (lowest bracket)

1.00%I

Auto insurance premiums (Average price quotes, for the state)

$1,830

Job growth % (2010-2012)

15.38%

Housing

Median home price (2012)

$214,250

Average property taxes (2012)

$2,223

Education

Colleges, universities and professional schools (within 30 miles)

5

Reading test scores (% above/below state average)

8.4%

Test scores math (% above/below average)

20.9%

% students attending public/private schools (located within town limits)